It was just past midnight. A brand-new year. As he traveled out into the countryside, towards the dacha, he should have been feeling triumphant. His brother had no idea he was about to lose his company, his lover, everything.
Bring the signed document to my house in Marrakech within three days, Kasimir had told Bree coldly.
She’d answered, And if I fail?
He’d given her a cold smile. Then you’ll never see your sister again. She’ll disappear into the Sahara. And be mine. Forever.
Now, Kasimir clawed back his hair as he stared out the window at the moonlit night, with only the occasional lights of a town to illuminate the Russian land in the darkness.
In seventy-two hours, Bree would meet him in Marrakech and provide him with a contract, unknowingly signed by Vladimir, that would give him complete ownership of Xendzov Mining OAO. He should have been ecstatic.
Instead, he couldn’t stop thinking about how Josie had felt, soft and breathless, in his arms all night, as the hot desert wind howled against their tent, and they slept, naked in each other’s arms, face-to-face, heart-to-heart. Her reckless, fearless emotion had saturated his body and soul. He couldn’t forget the adoration in her eyes last night—and the shocked hurt in them today.
His hands shook at the thought of the conversation he’d soon have with his wife. Looking down, he realized he was twisting the gold ring on his left hand so hard his fingertip had started to turn white. He released the ring, then exhaled, leaning back in the leather seat. The last lights disappeared as they went deeper into the countryside. Dawn was still hours away on the first of January, the darkest of deep Russian winter.
The car finally turned down a quiet country road surrounded by the black, bare trees of a snowy forest. Past the empty guardhouse, the car continued down a road that was bumpy and long. The trees parted and he saw a large Russian country house in pale gray wood, overlooking a dark lake frosted with moonlight.
The limo pulled in front of the house and abruptly stopped. For a moment, he held his breath. The chauffeur opened his door, and Kasimir felt a chilling rush of cold air. Pulling a black overcoat over his tuxedo, he stepped out into the snowy January night.
As he walked towards the front door, the gravel crunched beneath his feet, echoing against the trees. In the pale gleaming lights from the windows, he could see the icicles of his breath.
As the chauffeur drove the car away towards the distant barn that was used as a garage, Kasimir went to the front door and found it was unlocked.
Surprised, he pushed open the door. He walked into the dark, silent foyer. The house was silent. As the grave.
Where were the bodyguards?
“Hello?” he called harshly. No answer. With a sickening feeling, he suddenly remembered the guardhouse had been empty, as well. With no one minding the door, anyone could have walked right in and found Josie sleeping, helpless and alone.
He sucked in his breath. This was a safe area, but he had plenty of enemies. Starting with his own brother. If somehow—somehow—Vladimir had found out he was here...
“Josie!” he cried. He ran up the stairs three steps at a time. He rushed down the hall to their bedroom. If anything had happened, he would never forgive himself for leaving her.
He knocked the door back with a bang against the wall. In the flickers of dying firelight from the old stone fireplace, he saw a shadow move in the bed.
“Kasimir?” Josie’s voice was sleepy. She sat up in bed, yawning. “Was that you yelling?”
Relief and joy rushed through him, so great it nearly brought him to his knees. Without a word, he sat down on the bed and pulled her into his arms. In the moonlight from the window, he saw her beautiful, precious face, her cheeks lined with creases from the pillow, her messy hair tumbling over her shoulders, auburn in the red glow from the fire’s dying embers.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Kasimir didn’t answer. For long moments, he just sat on the bed, holding her. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the scent of vanilla and peaches in hair, felt the sweet softness of her body pressed against his own.
“Kasimir?” Her voice was muffled against his chest. He finally pulled back, gripping her shoulders as he looked down at her.
“Where are the bodyguards?” he said hoarsely. “Why are you alone?”
“Oh... That.” To his surprise, she shrugged, then gave him a crooked grin. “They got in this big fight, arguing over which of them got to watch some huge sports event on the big screen in the basement and which poor slob would be stuck watching me. So I told them in Russian that I didn’t need anyone watching me. I mean—” she gave a little laugh “—I’ve been sleeping on my own for a long time. My whole life. I mean—” she suddenly blushed, looking at him “—until quite lately.” Drawing back, she looked at him. “You aren’t mad, are you?” she said anxiously. “I promised them you wouldn’t be mad.”
“I will fire them all,” Kasimir said fervently. Pulling her hard against his body, he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was pure and true and that he wished could last forever—but he feared would be their last.
This time, she was the one to pull away. “You don’t really mean that,” she said chidingly. “You can’t fire them. They had to obey me. I’m your wife.”
“Of course they had to obey you,” he growled.
“Good,” she sighed. She pressed her cheek against his chest, then sat up in sudden alarm. “The phone line got cut off when I tried to talk to Bree. Was she mad? Did you cut the deal with Vladimir? When will I see her?”
Kasimir looked down into her beautiful, trusting face, feeling heartsick. “She’s safe and happy and you’ll see her in three days.” His jaw clenched, and he forced himself to say, “But there’s something I need to tell you.”
Josie shook her head, narrowing her eyes with a determined set of her chin. “I have something to tell you first.”
“No—”
She covered his mouth with her small hand. She looked straight into his eyes. And she said the five words that for ten years, he’d never wanted to hear from any woman.
“I’m in love with you,” Josie whispered.
With an intake of breath, he pulled back, his eyes wide. He looked at her face, pink in the warm firelight. “What did you say?” he choked out.
Josie’s eyes were luminous as she looked up at him with a trembling smile. Then she said the words again, and it was like the home he’d dreamed of his whole life. “I love you, Kasimir.”
“But—you can’t.” He realized his body was shaking all over. “You don’t.”
“I do.” Her eyes glowed like sunlight and Christmas and everything good he’d ever dreamed of. “I knew it last night, when you held me in your arms. And I had to tell you before I lost my courage. Because even if you’re mean to me, even if you push me away, even if you divorce me and I never see you again...” She lifted her gaze to his. “I love you.”
Standing up, Kasimir stumbled back from her. Pacing three steps, he stopped, clawing his hair back wildly as he faced her in the moonlight. “You’re wrong. Sex can feel like love, especially the first time. When you don’t have enough experience to know the difference...”
Pushing aside the quilts, she slowly stood up in her plaid flannel nightgown. “I know the difference.” Her eyes pierced his. “Do you?”
His heart started to pound.
He didn’t want to think about how being with Josie was so different from anything he’d ever experienced before. Couldn’t. “Don’t you understand what kind of man I am?” he said hoarsely. “I’m selfish. Ruthless. I’ve spent ten years trying to destroy my own brother! How can you love me?”
Coming towards him, she put her hand over his. “Because I do.”
A tremble went through him then that he couldn’t control. Outside, through the windows, the sky was turning lighter as dawn rose pink and soft. It was New Year’s Day.
“You should hate me,” he whispered. “I want you to hate me.”
Reaching up, Josie cupped his cheek, her palm soft against the rough bristles of his jawline. “You don’t have to be afraid.”
He stiffened. “Afraid?”
“Of loving me back,” she said quietly. She took a deep breath. “You want to love me. I think you already do. But you’re afraid I’ll hurt you or leave you. What will it take for you to see you have nothing to fear? I’ve never loved anyone before, but I know one thing. I will love you,” she whispered, “for always.”
Their eyes locked in the gray shadows of the bedroom. The icy wind rattled the window, and the fire crackled noisily.
“There. I’m done.” Tears shone in her eyes as she gave him a trembling smile. “Now what did you want to tell me?”
And just like that, Kasimir suddenly knew.